Bank Holiday Bonanza!
Magnificent May weekend at Montalto - Monday 4th May
Join Montalto Estate this Magnificent May Weekend for the perfect family day out. Enjoy spring sunshine in the Walled Garden, live entertainment, BBQ treats, ice cream, and more. Browse the Spring Market in The Carriage Rooms, featuring handcrafted jewellery, soaps, homeware, and gifts from local artisans. Little ones can enjoy garden games, the Woodland Play Park, and train rides* through the Trails & Gardens.
Tickets: Pre-booking is essential for all guests, including members, via montaltoestate.com. No extra event ticket required.
Dogs: Well-behaved dogs welcome on leads.
Sizzle, Sips & Sounds - Monday 25th May
Join Montalto Estate in The Walled Garden, on May Bank Holiday, for a day full of entertainment and food in perfect surroundings.From 11am - 4pm, grab a bite to eat at our BBQ station*, along with a cold, refreshing drink while enjoying live music by local musicians in our stunning and exclusive Walled Garden.
Castlewellan May Day Fair
The ever-popular Castlewellan May Day Fair is taking place on Monday 4 May 2026 (May Day Bank Holiday) from 9am-5pm with free family-friendly activities, traders, artisan crafts and food and lots of colour to look forward to.
The town's Main Street and Upper and Lower Squares will come alive with live music, dance performances, and a variety of family-friendly activities. Highlights include performances by Conal Montgomery, the Jenna Finnegan Dance Company, and the Castlewellan Inter-Church Choir. Face painting and traditional Irish music from Comhaltas add to the festive atmosphere. This free event is a perfect way to spend the Bank Holiday with family and friends.
Whodunit Hunts
Enjoy outdoor fun solving murder mysteries in fascinating and beautiful locations. Be Sherlock Holmes for a day! Whodunit Hunts offer outdoor, self-guided murder mystery trails where clues are solved along a route to identify the suspect, weapon, and crime scene location.
Downpatrick Race Course - 8 May
Get ready for an exciting evening of sport and entertainment at Downpatrick Racecourse on Friday 8 May 2026. With turnstiles opening at 3:30pm, the first race kicks off at 4:50pm and the final race is expected around 8:15pm. This lively evening meet offers the thrill of live horse racing in a stunning setting, along with a vibrant atmosphere and plenty of off-track entertainment.
May Bank Holiday SPLASH Out with Life Adventure -1 May 2026 - 4 May
SPLASH OUT THIS MAY BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND! – 25% OFF ALL WATERSPORTS RENTALS!
Use code: MDS25%
Make this long weekend one to remember with our Family & Friends Event — the perfect excuse to get outdoors, try something new, and create unforgettable moments together.
Spring Bank Holiday SPLASH OUT!-23 May 2026 - 25 May
SPLASH OUT THIS SPRING BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND! – 25% OFF ALL WATERSPORTS RENTALS! Use code: SBS25%
Make the most of your long weekend with our Family & Friends Event — the ultimate chance to get outdoors, have fun, and create memories you'll be talking about long after the holiday is over.
Castlewellan Peace Maze Past & Future
Come along to one event, listen to local stories, learn about the Peace Maze. Do you remember what was going on in 2001 when they opened the Peace Maze? In your family, in Castlewellan, in the world? Share your own photos and memories as we look back 25 years and plan for the future.
.jpg)
Spring Plant Fair- Thursday 16th May
Situated in and around the Stableyard, Castle Wards Garden Team will be joined by an array of specialist plant nurseries from all over Ireland giving you every excuse to find the perfect plant for your collection.
Whether you're a seasoned pro or a budding enthusiast, there's a treasure waiting for you.
.jpeg)
Cranfield Alpaca Beach Treks - Spring Dates
This bank holiday weekend meet your friendly alpaca and take them for a leisurely stroll down country lanes, enjoying the stunning views as you head down to our beautiful, golden beach. Our Alpacas absolutely adore being walked on the beach. Join them for some fun in the sand and have an experience unlike any other.
Relax & Recharge this Bank Holiday weekend at Revive
Indulge in the luxury of A sauna to detox and unwind. A hot tub for soothing warmth. A natural spring water plunge pool, offering a refreshing contrast while surrounded by nature's splendor. Rediscover tranquility and treat yourself to a revitalizing escape amidst the serene beauty of Rostrevor.
.jpg)
Get Creative!
The Clay Project
Book a pottery painting experience with The Clay Project in Newcastle, The Clay Project hosts ceramic workshops that celebrate the wonderful qualities of clay, creating a relaxed, social, and intentional space to make. From decorating functional ceramic pieces to getting your hands fully immersed in clay through hand-building, sculpture, casting, and printing, we offer a welcoming space to explore the versatility and joy of ceramics.
Art Studio 23
Enjoy a creative afternoon at ArtStudio 23, where you can paint your pet, learn to create a beautiful artwork, or try your hand at pottery painting. With a variety of artistic activities on offer, it’s the perfect way to stay inspired and entertained over the May bank holiday weekend!
.jpg)
Forests & Parks
.jpg)
Step into a world of magic and wonder at Slieve Gullion Forest Park. This is Ireland's Mountain of Mystery. Set in the beautiful grounds of Slieve Gullion Forest Park, the perfect start to any family trip to the Forest begins with a stop off at our action-packed Adventure Playpark.
Located against the backdrop of the dramatic slopes of the Mourne Mountains, Castlewellan Forest Park is one of the area’s most exciting outdoor spaces which includes Castlewellan Peace Maze, one of the world’s largest permanent hedge mazes. It is also home of Life Adventure, who offer a wide range of unique adventure experiences for all the family.
Dont miss a chance to visit the newely refurbished Annesley Walled Gardens The 12-acre walled garden, dating back to the 1850s, is one of the finest examples of a grand Victorian formal garden with collections of rare and exotic trees, shrubs and plants. The surrounding arboretum is also home to one of the most significant collection of trees and shrubs on the island of Ireland.
Situated on the shores of Strangford Lough, just outside Killyleagh, Delamont Country Park is full of surprises. The park is the home of the Strangford Stone, which at ten metres high is the tallest monolith in Ireland.
For kids, there’s the Outdoor Adventure Playground, while the whole family will love the Steamers Cafe and Miniature Railway.
Kilbroney Park offers some of the most scenic views around the area. Located overlooking the village of Rostrevor, Kilbroney’s scenic forest drive culminates in unparalleled views over Carlingford Lough below.
Intrepid walkers can scale Cloughmore, known to locals as the ‘Big Stone’. Legend has it that this thirty tonne erratic was thrown here by Fionn McCool during a battle with a rival Scottish giant.
Keep up to date with What's On in the area.
Enjoy the bank holidays and remember to plan ahead. Regardless of the weather, everyone will want to join in the fun.
Follow us across our social channels @VisitMourneGullionStrangford
Open Wed - Sun 9.30am-4pm (Last admission 3pm) | Tickets valid all day A visit to Montalto Estate is the perfect way to reconnect with nature, in a natural, historical, and truly relaxing setting.
Revive Saunas, Natural Spring Mountain Spa. Where breathtaking views of the Knockbarragh Valley in the Mourne Mountains create the perfect setting for rejuvenation.
The Clay Project offers decorating ceramic pieces to getting your hands fully immersed in clay through hand-building, sculpture, casting, and printing, we offer a welcoming space to explore the versatility and joy of ceramics.
Art Studio 23, based in the heart of Newry City, is an art hub for all ages and abilities.
Castlewellan (Caislean Uidhiln meaning "Uidhilin's castle") is a town located in County Down near the shores of Castlewellan Lake at the foot of Slievenaslat mountain. Castlewellan has a wide main street which runs through two main squares (Upper and Lower Square) lined with chestnut trees. The town was planned by William Annesley in the 1750s and is unique within Ireland due to its tree lined squares both in the old town (upper square) and new town (lower square) as well as its very wide main street. Castlewellan Forest Park is located in a dramatic setting and is home to one of the most notable tree and shrub collections in Europe. It features a walled garden and the Peace Maze.
Discover a place of contrasts and creativity at Castle Ward, an eccentric 18th century mansion and estate looking out over the tranquil waters of Strangford Lough in County Down where visitors can explore cultivated gardens, sheltered woodland and the shoreline.
Ballynahinch was traditionally a market town and the market still takes place in the town every Thursday. Ballynahinch lies on the main A24 Belfast to Newcastle Road, 15 miles south of Belfast. Facilities in the town include a community centre. Ballynahinch, from the Irish meaning town of the holm (island) is twinned with Lamorlaye, France. The town was popular in the 19th Century as a spa destination among fashionable aristocratic travellers who came to `take the waters' at medicinal spa wells two miles outside the town.
Have you ever gone to plan your next walking route in the Mournes only to be restricted by where you park your car? The Mourne Shuttle Bus Service provides a shuttle service to walkers in the Mourne Area to get you to your destination whilst parking your vehicle responsibly.
Follow Fionn's Giant Adventure (previously known as the Giant's Lair) at Slieve Gullion Forest Park. Follow the trail, there's so much to explore. Seek out fairies, spells, music and more. Help is at hand as you'll have fairies and warriors to help you follow the trail.
Castlewellan Forest Park is located on Forest Park View, Castlewellan, County Down, in a dramatic setting of mountains and sea. Castlewellan Forest Park has one of the most outstanding tree and shrub collections in Europe. The beauty, vigour and perfect shape of the trees in the National Arboretum attract tree enthusiasts from around the world.
Situated on the shores of Strangford Lough in an area of outstanding natural beauty, Delamont Country Park, Killyleagh offers peace, beauty and tranquillity. The stunning views across Strangford Lough and the relaxing atmosphere make Delamont Country Park a place to enjoy that 'away from it all feeling'.
Kilbroney Park features riverside walks and an arboretum. There is a two-mile forest drive which showcases panoramic views over Carlingford Lough. There is also a Play Park with children's play area and tennis courts, an Information area and a café all on site.
Downpatrick Racecourse is the oldest racecourse in Ireland, dating back to 1685. Today, we host 10 fixtures each year with our feature being the Randox Ulster National which this year takes place on Sunday 2nd April. The Racecourse is a hub of local life and attracts visitors from far and wide
